Friday, July 31, 2026
Cattaraugus & Allegany County, New York
Olean/Political
Vernon Robinson Jr., president of the Olean Common Council and the first Black alderman in the city's history, announced he would step down before the end of July 2026. Robinson, who has represented Ward 6 since being appointed in 2020 and was elected council president in 2025, cited the difficulty of balancing his demanding job as a National Grid warehouse manager with council duties. He did not detail all his reasons for leaving but said he hoped his successor could improve communication between the mayor's office and the council. His resignation took effect July 28, 2026.
Friendship/Communal
Allegany County crews began daily weekday closures of County Road 31 on July 14, 2026, to replace a number of aging culverts along the route. The work stretches from Friendship into the neighboring town of Scio, ending at County Road 9, and is scheduled to continue through August 6. The road reopens to traffic each night and on weekends, but the county says there is no official on-site detour and is asking drivers to plan alternate routes during work hours. The project is expected to affect commuters and local businesses along the corridor for several weeks.